Article assorting apparatus



June 11, 1946; SPRAKER 2,402,097

ARTICLE ASSORTING APPARATUS Filed March 29, 1944 INVENTOR Erma/ 1: 5

PRAKER ATTORNEYS 7 Patented June 11, 1946 ARTICLE ASSORTIN G APPARATUS Richard A. Spraker, Fairfield,

Remington Arms Company,

Conn, assignor 1120 .Inc., Bridgeport,

Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application March 29, 1944, Serial No. 528,606

6 Claims. 1

The-present invention relates-to article sorting apparatus, and particularly to a feeding apparatus adapted to sort and feed articles from a bulk hopper inside by side relation and in correct endwise orientation to a feed magazine or the like, which in turn feeds the articles in succession to an automatic processing machine. The invention is predicated upon the sorting and feeding of articles which are essentially of elonga'te'd form and substantially heavier at oneend than the=othel3 such articles being, for instance, cartridge-case components in a given stage of their manufacture. Such components are in the form of a cylindrical tube open at one end and of the component is .at One side of the medial point and toward the heavier head end. In certain processing operations the components are fed into a magazine in side by side relation, as distinguished from end to end relation, and with the head ends all disposed in the same direction. It'is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus especially adapted for the eiiectual :feed of elongated oli center-balanced articles in side by side relation and in uniform endwise orientation, and wherein it is proposed to employ the force of gravity-in cooperation with the apparatusand the articles to accomplish this end.

workin parts, making tain in-working order.

A further object is to provide automatic means actuated 'by the articles being fed to stop the feed of the articles to the magazine as the latter becomes filled to a predetermined height, thus preventing jamming at the point of entry to the "magazine.

With the above and other objects in view an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will Ibe'hereinafter more fully described with refer- -ence"thereto, and the invention will be finally .ipointed 'out in the claims.

.:In the drawing Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the article sorting "device, -according to the illustrated exemplary embodimento'f the invention.

Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the'lindZ-Zdf Fig. l, and partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the upper end hopper being provided at 2 of the feed magazine andthe automatic trip ate mechanism, the main feed hopper for cooperation therewith bein removed.

Fig.4 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the device, taken alongthe line 44 of Fig. 2, and showing the trip gate mechanism in its operative or open position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the trip gate mechanism in its inoperative or closed position.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the article sorting machine, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of thlSilIl-VBIIUlOILShOWIl therein, .comprises a stationary hopper, indicated generally as i ll, of cylindrical form disposed'in upright position with its centralaxis horizontally disposed, being provided in its vertical front Wall E! with an article receiving opening lZ'haVingsecured in the lower portion a forwardly projecting bin l3.

The lower edge of the bin is disposed in concentric inwardly of the outer peso that the wall is provided marginal relation substantially riphery of the wall H, with a continuous flat circumferential portion disposed in avertical plane.

The hopper constitutes a housing for a rotatable paddle wheel, presently to :be more fully described, and for this purpose is provided with a cylindrical side Wall SH! open at its rearward side, the its upper side with-an inwardly projecting dome portion 15 adapted to provide a clearance spaceabout the upper portion of the paddle wheel, the front wall of this dome'portion being continuously formed with the front wall H and the rear wall :being provided with an arcuate lower edge It forming a circumferential continuation .of the inner cylindrical surface of the side Wall i l to provide therewith a circular opening for receiving the paddle wheel. Upon the inner side of the front wall ll there is-secured arearwardly projecting baflie wall [:1 inwardly.spa'ced:from the outer wall l4 and start ing at a'point'at one side slightlybelow the horizontal .diametric: plane of the :hopperand extending therefrom in the direction of rotation of the paddle wheel to a terminal point at the other side "and in thelower region of the hopper. The end portion ofthe-baiiie adjacent its terminal point is preferably curved inwardly, as at l8, out of concentric relation. The balfle is of approximate- 1y half width from its starting point at one side to a point at the other side a short distance above the horizontal diametric plane-of the hopper, and

fromwhich latter point it isof full width to its and bin in quantity so the starting end of the the paddle of the hopper, preventing terminal end, the half width portion traversing the clearance space provided across the dome I5.

The articles to be sorted are essentially elongated and are essentially heavier at one end than the other, being shown for example as tubular cartridge case components A closed at their head end, so that the balance point of the component is at one side of its medial point and toward the head end. The half width portion of the bafile is such that when the components are being fed thereon by the paddle wheel, as will presently more fully appear, any component having its head end disposed'forwardly upon the half width portion will remain thereon, due to the fact that its balance point is forwardly of the edge of the half Width portion. On the other hand, any component which is wrong end to, that is with its head end disposed rearwardly, will be overbalanced and will tip over the edge of the half width portion as the paddle wheel traverses the clearance gap provided by the dome I5, dropping by gravity back into the lower region of'the hopper.

The paddle wheel comprises a circular disk 19, rotatably engaged within the circular opening at the rear side of the hopper, and provided with a circular series of forwardly projecting radially disposed paddle vanes 26, slightly less in height than the width in the channel space provided between the baffle and the hopper wall, so that as the wheel is rotated the paddle vanes move through this channel space. The disk 19 is provided with a central hub 2| secured to a shaft 22' which is driven by suitable means to rotate the disk slowly within the hopper. V

The components are placed in the bulk hopper that they are promiscuously disposed therein. As the paddle wheel rotates certain of the components will be engaged by gravity and agitation in the pocket spaces between the vanes, and as they are carried through the lower region of the hopper into relation with baflle those components fully seated therein will be carried upwardly into the channel space, while those not fully seated will be deflected back into the. hopper. Those components carried by the paddle wheel into the channel space will be disposed with their head ends either forwardly or rearwardly, and as wheel traverses the clearance gap provided by the dome l5 those components which have their head ends rearwardly will drop off the baffle, while those with their head forwardly will be carried beyond the gap and into relation with the full width retaining portion of the baffle. The full width portion provides a cover for the paddle vanes as they move into the lower part interference of the components in the hopper with those carried in the paddle wheel. The spacing of the terminal end l8 of the hopper from the paddle wheel vanes is substantially less than the diameter of the components so that the components in the hopper cannot enter beneath this terminal end.

In opposed relation to the terminal end portion 18 of the baffle there is provided an outlet opening 23, corresponding substantially in width to the width of the spaces between the paddle wheel vanes, the lower surface of the cylindrical wall I4 and the front wall I! being arcuately recessed, as at 24, for the purpose of cooperation therewith of the trip gate presently to be more fully described. In line with the opening 23 there is provided a gravity feed magazine or chute 25, of rectangular cross section, into which the components drop by gravity through the opening 23 7 the components into in side by side relation with their head ends uni formly oriented forwardly. A bracket 28 is secured to the magazine 25, and pivotally supports a lever arm 21 upon the upper end of which there is secured a gate member 28, in the form of a plate curved in concentric relation to the pivotal axis of the lever 2'1 with its upper convex s face having bearing in the arcuate recess 24. A rectangular opening 29 is provided in the gate somewhat longer than the external long dimension of the magazine and slightly greater in width than the internal short dimension of the,maga zine, so that in the open inner edge of the opening rests upon the upper end of one wall of the magazine while the outer edge abuts the outer surface of the opposed wall of the magazine, the opposed wall being projected upwardly above the other three Walls, as at 30, ,to provide such abutmen.

'These other three walls are preferably convexly formed at their upper ends to engage and conform to the concave under side of the gate. In the closed position of the gate, as shown in Fig. 5, the inner wallof the opening abuts the innersurface of theabutment portion 30.

The lever 21 may be provided with a. forked trip finger 3l'extending downwardlyin inclined relation through openings 32 in the wall of the magazine, and normally extending across the magazine to provide a support therein for the components. An adjustable counter-weight 33 is carried upon a threaded arm 34 secured to the lever 21, and normally maintains the gate 28 in open position and the trip finger in supporting relation within the magazine, being suitably adjusted to balance the weight of a predetermined number of components.

In operation the components are successively fed from the paddle wheel into the magazine until the predetermined numberhave accumulated upon the trip finger to overbalance the counter-weight, whereupon the trip finger moves outwardly to release these components and at the same time close the gate 28, so that feed of the magazin is interrupted. If there is normal feed of the components from the magazine to the processing machine the components released by the trip finger will drop to a point clear of the trip finger, so that automatically the latter will return immediately to operative position, under action of the counterweight, and the gate 28 will open. However, in

' case of interruption m'the feed of the components from the magazine, so that they begin to 2 build up in the magazine, the component released by the trip finger will not be carried below the trip finger but willbe disposed in line with the end surfaces 35-35 thereof, thus preventing the trip finger from moving inwardly under the action of the counterweight, as shown in Fig, 5, the gate 28 remaining closed. This condition will continue until the height of the components in the magazine drops below the trip finger to release it, whereupon the gate opens and the normal feed continues. When the gate 28 is closed the components in the paddle wheel pockets remain therein and are carried around with the paddle wheel until they are finally fed intothe magazine.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawing and described herein is typical and illustrative only, and it is evident that the invention is capable of embodiments in other forms, all falling within the scope of the appended claims, which are to be broadly construed.

position of the gate the 'Whati sclaimed is:

asoaocv I.v In an apparatus for sorting and feeding elongated; articles heavier at one end than the other, a bulk hopper having a circumferential outer wall extending about thereof, there being clearance gap in said. wall in the upper region of the hopper; acircumferential bafilewall, of varied width fixed within said hopper in inwardly spaced concentric relation to said circumferential outer wall to form an an nularchannelv therebetween and extending up- Wardly from a point at one side of: the hopper below and contiguous to the diametric horizontal plane of thehopperacross said clearance gap and downwardly to a point at the other side below said clearance gap, a rotatable paddle wheel comprising a substantially flat thin disk having: a circular series of spacedlpaddlevanes on one face thereof arranged to engage and move in the annular channel. between. said outer wall and said baiile wall, the portion of said baiiie wall traversing said clearance gap being of substantially half width and extending approximately half-way across said hopper, whereb articles carried upwardly by said paddle wheel and disposed with their heavy end on said half width portion will remain thereon as the paddle wheel continues in its downward movement, while reversely disposed articles will tilt and drop therefrom, said hopper having an outlet opening at a point opposed to said bafiie wall through which drop the articles carried downwardly by said paddle wheel.

2. In an apparatus for sorting and feeding elongated articles heavier at one end than the other, a bulk hopper having a circumferential outer wall extending about the bottom and sides thereof, there being a clearance gap in said wall in the upper region of the hopper, a circumferential bafile wall of varied width fixed withinsaid hopper in inwardly spaced concentric relation to said circumferential outer wall to form an annular channel therebetween and extending upwardly from a point at one side of the hopper across said clearanc gap and downwardly to a point at the other side in the lower region of said hopper, a rotatable paddle wheel comprising a substantially fiat thin disk having a circular series of spaced paddle vanes on one face thereof arranged to engage and move in the annular channel between said outer wall and said bafiie wall, the portion of said baiile wall traversing said clearance gap being of substantially half width and extending approximately half-way across said hopper, whereby articles carried upwardl by said paddle wheel and disposed with their heavy end on said half width portion will remain thereon as the paddle wheel continues in its downward movement, while reversely disposed articles will tilt and drop therefrom into the lower region of said hopper, said baliie wall being of full width from a point above the diametric horizontal plane of the hopper to its lower terminal end to form a cover for said paddle vanes thereby preventing interference of the articles in the hopper with the oriented articles in the paddle wheel, said hopper having an outlet opening at a point in its lower region opposed to said bailie wall through which drop the articles carried downwardly by said paddle wheel.

3. In an apparatus for feeding elongated articles in side by side relation, a bulk hopper, an article feeding paddle wheel within said hopper having a circular series of spaced paddle vanes for individually feeding said articles in successive side by side relation, said hopper having an the bottom sides all) outlet opening at a point in: its lower region through which individually drop-the articlesicarried by said paddle wheel, a feed magazine in communication with said opening for receiving the articles side by relation, movable gate for outlet opening arranged when closed to support articles. in said paddle wheel, and actuating means for opening and closing said gate rnovably disposed in said magazine in the path of the articles passing therethrough to support them, a predetermined number of such articles adapted by their'wcight. to move said. actuating means in gateclosing, direction to allow passage of said articles, said'actuating means adapted'to be prevented from. movement within said magazine in gate opening direction. by an arrested ar tic e disposediin: its return path.

4. In an apparatus for feedin elongated articles: in side by side relation, a bulk hopper, an article feeding paddle wheel within. said hopper having a circular series of spaced paddle vanes for individually feeding said articles in successive side by side relation, said hopper having an outlet opening at a point in its lower region through which individually drop the articles carried by said paddle wheel, a feed magazine in communication with said opening for receiving the articles in side by side relation, a movable gate for said outlet opening arranged when closed to support articles in said paddle wheel, and a counterweighted trip lever for opening and closing said gate having a trip portion movably disposed in said magazine in the path of the articles passing therethrough to support them, a predetermined number of such articles adapted by their weight to move said lever in gate closing direction to allow passage of said articles, said lever adapted to be prevented from return movement within said magazine in gate opening direction by an arrested article disposed in its return path.

5. In an apparatus for sorting and feeding elongated articles heavier at one end than the other, a bulk hopper having a circumferential outer wall extending about the bottom and sides thereof, there being a clearance gap in said wall in the upper region of the hopper, a circumfer ential baille wall fixed within said hopper in inwardly spaced relation to said circumferential outer wall extending upwardly from a point at one side of the hopper across said clearance gap and downwardly to a point at the other side in the lower region of said hopper, a rotatable paddle wheel havin a circular series of spaced paddle vanes engaged and movable in the annular channel between said outer wall and said baiile wall, the portion of said baflie wall traversing said clearance space being of substantially half width and extending approximately half-way across said hopper, whereby rticles carried upwardly by said paddle wheel and disposed with their heavy end on said half width portion will remain thereon as the paddle wheel continues in its downward movement, while reversely disposed articles will tilt and drop therefrom into the lower region of said hopper, said hopper having an outlet opening at a point in its lower region opposed to said bailie wall through which individually drop the article carried downwardly by said paddle wheel, a feed magazine in communication with said opening for receiving the articles in side by side relation, a movable gate for said outlet opening arranged when closed to support articles in said paddle wheel, and actuating means for opening and closing said gate movably disposed in'said magazine in t e path of the articles passing therethrough to support them, a predetermined number of such articles adapted by their weight to move said actuating means in gate closing direction to allow passage of said articles, said actuating means adapted to be prevented from return movement within said magazine in gate opening direction by an arrested article disposed in its return path.

6. Apparatus for the delivery in a desired orientation of elongated articles having a heavy end comprising a rotatable plate mounted on a horizontal axis; article supporting and transferring vanes projecting from one face of said plate in substantial parallelism With the axis thereof; a substantially cylindrical stationary drum housing comprising a fragmentary end plate disposed in substantial parallelism with said rotatable plate and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than the length of the articles to be orithe upper portion thereof; introducing articles to be oriented into said drum and a stationary arcuate' article sepa rating baiile coaxial with said rotatable plate seented and a side wall which i generally cylindrical and coaxial with. the axis of said rotatable plate and comprises an outward enlargement at hopper means for housing cured to said stationary housing and forming with the side Wall thereof a channel for the passage of said vanes and the elongated articles transferred thereon, said baffle being cut away in the region opposite the enlargement in the top of said side wall to afford a support ior substantially one-half the length of the elongated articles being transferred, and a portion of the baffle in the direction of article transfer from said enlargement being extended to afford a 'separation of oriented articles in transit from articles being supplied by said hopper means.

RICHARD A. SPEAKER. 

